RESIDENTS living in the shadow of the remains of Glasgow School of Art’s (GSA) iconic Mackintosh building claim they are being shut out of discussions about the future of their community.
The Garnethill Displaced Residents group say they feel “insulted” and “dumped” after discovering they will no longer be part of a local task force looking at the regeneration of the area. They also claim GSA has failed to communicate its plans.
The group formed after Glasgow City Council’s allegedly “inept response” in supporting people evacuated from their homes after last June’s fire. They were locked out for months due to safety concerns.
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Now, with a cordon still operating on the scaffolding covered Dalhousie Street which runs past the burnt shell of the Mac building, they say their concerns on both local access issues, and how future development of GSA and the O2 venue would impact on locals, are not being listened to.
They reject council claims that these can be voiced through community councillors, who will be invited to future meetings of the Sauchiehall Street task force, and say GSA needs to step up its communications.
Dalhousie Street resident Adrian Nairn, who supports recent calls for a public inquiry into the fire, said: “We’ve had to fight throughout to have our voices heard. The task force was going to be this dream thing that would help us raise our concerns. It has just been a box ticking exercise. Now we feel like we’ve been dumped.”
Angela Simpson, who also lives on the street, added: “We were put back into our homes after three months and just expected to get on with it. We’re left looking at scaffolding, half the road is closed and we have no idea when that will change.” Access issues have been hard for a neighbour with a disabled child, she added. Others have been forced to put plans to sell up and move on indefinite hold.
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She said she was particularlyconcerned about potential demolition of the O2. Earlier this month a building warrant application was submitted seeking permission to dismantle the “substantially fire-damaged” venue “in its entirety”. It is pending consideration from councillors.
Chris Collins, secretary of Blythswood and Broomielaw Community Council, said trust was at an all-time low. “The community here has felt excluded for a long time [by GSA],” he added. “Not to involve them at this stage feel like an insult.”
Glasgow Labour MSP Pauline McNeil, said: “It’s shocking treatment. Residents have had to fight every step of the way for a voice on this. It’s as if everything is sorted but it’s very far from it.”
A spokeswoman for GSA said the building had been stabilised, and the next step would be to make it water tight. It has employed a community engagement officer who is working with community councils.
“We absolutely understand that people want to know as much as possible about our future plans for the Mackintosh Building and once the detailed planning is underway we will be sharing information as widely as possible,” she added.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said it was restructuring the task force: “We will continue to share the information we have with residents and neighbouring businesses first,” he added. “However, we are not able to provide information that is the responsibility of other agencies.”
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